Advisory:
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ANNOUNCES GIFT OF NEW GUINEA ART
May 11, 2001
Contact Eliza Schmidkunz (541) 346-5083 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135
WHAT Melvin Aikens, Museum of Natural History director, will announce the acquisition of 28 New Guinea artworks, donated by the estate of Wallace "Mack" Ruff, a UO landscape architect. These large and dramatic bark paintings, dance costumes, carved masks and shields were used in the men’s meeting house ceremonies of the Asmat people and other ethnic groups of New Guinea.
WHEN 10 a.m. Monday, May 14
10—10:30 a.m. Artwork available for photos
Speakers available for questions
10:30—10:45 a.m. Melvin Aikens
Welcome and Introductions
10:45—11:30 a.m. Richard Sundt, gallery talk
"The Museum’s New Guinea Art Collection as a
Tool for Teaching Oceanic Art"
WHERE
Lobby and exhibit hall, Museum of Natural History, 1680 E. 15th Ave. Free parking in front of the museum with a permit from the museum front desk.WHO • Melvin Aikens, Museum of Natural History director
• Richard E. Sundt, UO associate professor of art history
BACKGROUND Known for its archaeological discoveries about Oregon’s ancient people, the Museum of Natural History is also home to significant collections of traditional art, clothing, crafts and tools from Africa, North America and Oceania. Many of these items will be exhibited after the museum’s remodeling is completed in 2003. Meanwhile, a selection of new acquisitions from New Guinea will be on display for this special event only.
Wallace "Mack" Ruff was a UO landscape architect who worked in Papua New Guinea for many years. He collected, photographed and drew the traditional art and architecture of the island and donated 55 pieces of Middle Sepik River art to the museum in 1993.
Ruff died in 1999, and his estate recently donated 28 more pieces, from a different region and ethnic group. The Asmat, who live on the Indonesian side of the island, used headhunting rituals–now symbolic–as an important part of their religious beliefs. Most of the items date from the 1990s and were made and used by men in ceremonies that took place in large, highly decorated meeting houses. These buildings, and the art within them, are part of a quickly vanishing architectural tradition that Ruff, among many others, was trying to preserve.
Information about the Asmat of Iryan Jaya, a Ruff biography and a listing of Asmat and Sepik River artwork on display at the museum will be available at the reception.
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